Features

Former Nucor CEO David ‘Dave’ Aycock passes at age 94
Written by Kristen DiLandro
June 11, 2025
Steel industry veteran and former Nucor Chairman and CEO David ‘Dave’ Aycock died on Saturday at the age of 94.
Aycock started his career at Charlotte, N.C.-based Nucor in 1954, when he joined as a welder. He continued to advance through the organization, becoming COO and president in 1984.
After retiring in 1991, Aycock joined Nucor’s board of directors.
He came out of retirement in 1999, rejoining the company as chairman of the executive management team. In 1999 and 2000, he would also serve as president and CEO. During these years, the company implemented critical initiatives that shaped the Nucor of today.
Teaming with Ken Iverson and Sam Siegel, Aycock led Nucor’s revolutionary recycling-based production methods.
“Dave Aycock was part of the foundation of leaders that built Nucor into one of the most successful steel companies in the world,” Leon Topalian, Nucor’s current president, chair, and CEO, said in a statement. “Dave was the perfect embodiment of our Nucor culture, as his career showed that there are no limits on what a teammate can accomplish at Nucor.”
Aycock retired from the Nucor board in 2001.
“Our hearts go out to Dave’s wife, Daphne, and their entire family,” Topalian added. “Dave was a blessing to our company and his positive impact on the growth of Nucor is a tremendous legacy.”

Kristen DiLandro
Read more from Kristen DiLandroLatest in Features

Final Thoughts
We’re in the dog days of summer, and the question is whether the market will improve as lead times stretch into September. Your answer to that question might depend on where you are in the supply chain. And producers, it seems to me, are a lot more optimistic than consumers at the moment.

Leibowitz on trade: Trump’s reciprocal tariffs face mounting legal challenges
The tariffs amount to a wholesale transformation of US trade policy from one promoting increasing international interaction to one of restricting trade to serve national strategic goals.

ISM: Manufacturing growth slows in July, hits 10-month low
US manufacturing activity slowed again in July to a 10-month low

Final Thoughts
We're less than a month out from Steel Summit 2025. Have you already signed up?

Steel market chatter this week
Earlier this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to tariffs, imports, and evolving market events.